INDUSTRYNEWS
GGF Sets the Standard
for Fire-Resisting Glazing
The GGF Fire Resistant Glazing Group (FRGG)
has now published the new Standard for “The
Specification and Installation of Fire-Resistant
Barriers containing Glass for Resistance against the
passage of Fire and Products of Combustion.”
The FRGG has brought
together the group’s expertise
in a new standard covering
the specification, supply and
installation of fire-resistant
barriers containing glass for
protection against fire and the
effects of combustion. The
standard is ideal for the training
of installers and glaziers in
the specialities of fire-resistant
glazing, to develop and
maintain professional levels of
competency within the glazing
and construction industries.
This GGF standard for fireresistant glass an d glazing is
the first of its kind. Not only
does it set core criteria for
installers. Others will also find
the standard of value in providing
guidance. That includes, for
example, those who engage
installation contractors or who
are responsible for fire safety in
buildings (not only owners and
facilities managers but also risk
assessors, fire safety managers and
competent persons under the Fire
Safety Order). The standard is
also a useful reference for those
who are charged with overseeing
the application and enforcement
of regulations and fire safety
legislation.
Fire-resistant glazing is used to
limit the risks of dangerous fire
spread and to give occupiers vital
time to get out of the building
before conditions become
untenable. Glass is a key element
in today’s buildings. Much of
modern architecture can be said
to be transparent, due to such
an extensive use of glass. That
20
JUL 2014
means an important role for fireresistant glass and glazing – and
a fundamentally important place
for the new GGF standard in the
overall provision of fire safety in
the UK’s building stock.
An associated GGF training
module is also available founded
on the criteria set down in
the standard, leading to the
development of a GGF accredited
register of trained installers.
Some training has already
been carried out and the GGF
intends to develop the training
programme across the UK
through the Federation’s Regional
network.
‘Some training
has already been
carreid out and the
GGF intends to
develop the training
programme across
the UK through
the Federation’s
Regional network’
Giles Willson, Deputy Group
Chief Executive and Director of
Technical Affairs commented,
“In the last few years, the Fire
Resistant Glazing Group has
taken significant strides in
terms of training and in trying
to educate the industry on
the importance of the correct
installation of Fire Resistant
Glazing. This new Standard
is a welcome addition to the
GGF Technical library and will
be used by the GGF as part of
our training programme which
will initially be free for all GGF
Members. We will shortly be
publishing dates and venues for
training days across the UK and I
urge all Member companies who
install Fire Resistant Glazing to
send their installers to attend.”
The importance of Training and
this new Standard
One of the distinctive hallmarks
of the GGF is a sharp focus on
the correct specification, use and
installation of glazed systems in
the wide role played by glass in
modern buildings. That applies
critically to fire-resistant glass
and glazing which is called
upon to work effectively and
reliably in the most challenging
of circumstances should fire
break out, whilst functioning in
other respects as standard glass
products.
Members of the Fire Resistant
Glazing Group (FRGG) are well
aware from their involvement
with the fire safety community
of the importance of fitness
for purpose of fire-resistant
installations in containing fire
and providing fire separation.
They also know from the
supply of glass and glazing
systems to construction that the
understanding of fire-resistant
glazing is not as high as it should
be. Correct specification and
installation of fire-resistant
glazing systems are fundamentally
important, but too open to short
cuts that can be taken along the
design, specification and build
chain leading to higher risks from
less than adequate provisions
against fire. The FRGG sees
that it has an obligation as the
knowledgeable industry body to
do what it can to raise levels of
awareness together with standards
of application.
‘shortly be
publishing dates
and venues for
training days’
Fire safety cannot be left to
chance. Nor can provisions for
protection against fire be treated
on a “maybe or perhaps” basis.
Installations of fire-resistant
glazing must simply be fit for
their intended use. No option.
Fire is unpredictable and can
so easily become intense due to
the widespread use of synthetic
combustible materials in fixtures
and fittings, spreading so quickly
that there can be so little time to
think about what to do. Modern
fire safety design calls for effective
barriers to hold back flames and
the products of combustion, so
that any fire is kept in its place
of origin and prevented from
spreading to threaten both people
and property.
Through its specialist
members the GGF’s FRGG has
unparalleled access to a depth
of pooled practical knowhow,
product and testing knowledge,
and research and development
To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com